Selecting the right incontinence aids can make a significant difference in how you or a loved one look, feel, and function. In fact, while incontinence can be an embarrassing condition, good incontinence underwear can reduce the risk of other people learning that someone else has the condition. When choosing incontinence underwear, you should consider the nature and severity of the incontinence, as well as your or your loved one's mobility and lifestyle needs. Finances may also be a consideration, particularly for those on a limited income or whose insurance covers all or part of the cost of incontinence supplies.

If the incontinence is light, you may not even need incontinence underwear, but can choose to use incontinence pads that stick to regular underwear. If the incontinence is more severe or you prefer an all-in-one option, both disposable and reusable incontinence underwear is available. Incontinence underwear is usually labeled with its degree of absorbency, which can assist you in picking out something suitable to your particular condition. Incontinence aids marketed for people with severe incontinence or fecal incontinence often include a waterproof lining along with special odor-absorbing materials.

Another consideration is appearance. While disposables can be convenient, you may not like the way they look under clothes and may be concerned about how they appear to an intimate partner. Many companies now sell incontinence panties and briefs that look like regular underwear but that are designed with incontinence-control features such as anti-bacterial fabric and an absorbent crotch. While these undergarments can be more expensive than standard underwear, they may be a more cost-effective option than disposables. If finances are a significant issue, your choice of incontinence underwear may be restricted. If your insurance company covers some incontinence aids, you may need to work with a designated vendor to make your purchases. Ask your insurance company about what it does and does not cover.

Caregivers of those with incontinence may have their own preferences when it comes to incontinence underwear. For example, if a patient or family member is largely immobile and relies on the caregiver to remove and change the underwear, the caregiver may prefer a disposable undergarment that has side closures for easy removal. Both the caregiver and the wearer of the underwear should discuss their needs and preferences so as to come to a mutually agreeable decision about which type of incontinence underwear to use.

Discuss this Article

ddljohnPost 3

The ones with plastic or waterproof lining are supposed to be good. But I don't like the idea of wearing underwear with plastic. It kind of feels like I have a diaper on. So I prefer the cotton incontinence underwear with waterproof padding only in the center.

bluedolphinPost 2

@discographer-- Some of the newer incontinence underwear with built-in padding do fight odor. The pad is made of materials that is meant to lock in liquid and odor. But I agree with you that this is an issue with many products.

It's very difficult to find the best incontinence underwear. The ones with thick, bulky pads look funny under clothes and are uncomfortable. The ones with thin pads are comfortable but only offer minimum protection. Someone with heavy incontinence won't benefit from them.

It's a good idea to do some research on the various types of incontinence underwear out there before settling on one. They're not cheap so it's nothing something that most people can buy ten pairs of.

discographerPost 1

I think that incontinence underwear needs to have some kind of protection for odor. Incontinence underwear and pads are very good these days and have eliminated leaking and stains on clothes completely. But the issue that is still present is odor. Sometimes, I can tell that someone has incontinence because I can smell urine. Appearance wise, there is nothing wrong. So if the odor wasn't there, I wouldn't have known at all. I urge people to think about this when selecting incontinence underwear and other incontinence items.

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